Harborough

Harborough's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, work life and marriage.

The population passed 85,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Harborough increased by 12%, from just under 76,600 to 85,400.

The addition of about 8,800 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Harborough was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Harborough, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the East Midlands, except Leicester and Blaby.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 8.7% to 10%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.8%) households in Harborough had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.9% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person increased from 24% to 26%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Harborough that rented privately increased from 5.8% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 8.3%, while the percentage of Harborough households that owner their home decreased from 83% to 78%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Harborough increased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Harborough, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Harborough working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Harborough decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Harborough, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Harborough

The percentage of married people fell in Harborough, but at a slower rate than in nearby Blaby.

In Harborough, the proportion of married people decreased from 60% in 2001 to 56% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Blaby decreased from 59% to 53%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of married people decreased from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Harborough increased from 23% to 26%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.4% to 11%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Harborough residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.3% to 3.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Harborough residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Harborough decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Harborough, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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